"Buyers are asking for it and saying ‘if you don't work to an ISO standard, we won't put you on our tenders list'. So it's been driven by market forces and print buyers," says Heidelberg business manager for Prinect workflow and CTP Lance O'Connell.

According to O'Connell, this push was driven by companies like Williams Lea who were trying to standardise output across all of their print suppliers. As a result, today many companies are focusing on their workflow and colour quality, with manufacturers selling more colour management software than ever before.

The large-format B1 sector has particularly taken to investment in colour management tools, but then they've always been more technically aware and industry-driven says O'Connell, pointing out that it was this sector that was also the first to adopt CTP systems.

Knowledge gap
But while more print professionals are investing in colour management, there are plenty of printers and print buyers who are still unaware of the benefits it can bring beyond being just another box to tick - colour management can also be a bit of a minefield for ‘creatives' as well as printers, according to O'Connell.

"Do they on the creative side of the market understand it? I think education needs to take place before the market can move forwards," says O'Connell.

The key to a good managed workflow is to have the right tools focused on the right things at the right time. Do it the wrong way round and you'll run into problems. Most people can create an ICC profile, but it should be based on a complete workflow, not just a part of it. You need to monitor plate output, blankets, inks, etc, before you create a profile.

"So ideally you should have an on-press control system so you can monitor the results from your press," says O'Connell. Also bear in mind other factors such as substrates used.

Before you consider buying colour management software it's a good idea to have an audit done, either from the manufacturer or a third-party consultant. Spending time with a colour expert will allow you to not only audit your workflow system but train staff.

According to O'Connell, an expert will also be able to advise you on "whether you need to upgrade your presses, change your consumables, etc, before looking into colour management".

WHAT'S NEW IN PROCESS CONTROLS

• In September, GMG updated its ColorServer software package to make it easier to support multiple printers and digital presses. ColorServer was previously tied to one output device, but version 4.6 is now able to calibrate multiple printers and to impose a stardardised colour space across them. Earlier in the month the company had formed an alliance with Barbieri to bundle its Spectro LFP RT with ColorServer 4.6
• In August, RJ Design Associates (RJDA) invested in the latest pressSIGN colour management software from Bodoni Systems in order to meet increasing demand from its clients for standardised printing. The Derbyshire company, which started out as a design agency before expanding into photography, digital, wide-format and litho printing, bought the software from UK reseller Compose System
• Packaging printer AGI Media and pre-press company Loveurope were both awarded the Fogra certification for colour management in June, which is based on the ISO 12647-2 standard
• Targetcolour launched a subscription-based colour management, process control and print troubleshooting service Mypressexpert.com in March. The firm claims it offers a 6% reduction in makeready times and a 20% reduction in reprints